Australian employers are eyeing Filipinos as priority choice to fill in the 120,000 skilled workers needed in the land down under’s second biggest state, Queensland, in the next two years.
"Filipinos speak English very well, compared to other nationalities like Koreans, Japanese, and Chinese," said Michael Hall executive officer of Australia Council for Private Education and Training.
Recently, the state's Vocational Education and Training (VET) export office led a three-day job mission campaign in Cebu, participated by other educational and accredited job placement agencies in Australia, specifically in Queensland.
"We don't have enough people in Australia to take up the growing job offers," said Katherine Marnane director for VET Export Office.
According to Marnane the opening of the Integrity Learning International Philippines in Cebu, a training center dedicated to train workers to get ready for employment in Australia, would provide Cebuanos easier access to get a sure employment opportunity in Queensland, and ultimately bring their families in Australia.
"There are so many investments and development, yet there are not enough people who will take up the available jobs in Australia," said Mernane.
VET is composed of the local and national government, employers as well as training providers.
Mernane said workers would be needed in tourism and hospitality, business, accounting, hair dressing as well as in health and community services. Queensland has a 4-million population.
A high demand for workers in the transport, forestry, water, energy and industry development sectors, she added.
Linda Brown, director for Metropolitan South Institute, said Australia is "well-positioned financially" compared to other developed countries that are in the midst of the global financial troubles.
"We have an aging population [such] that in 2015, there will be more people over 50 than those under 25 years old," added Brown in explaining their continuing need for workers.
The VET export office has developed Philippine partners and they are being supported to be able to provide accredited training while at the same time processing visas for workers who want to work in Australia.
The Integrated Learning International Philippines, is partnering with Charlton Brown institute for hands-on training in Queensland, and eventually arrange job placements for the graduates.
To date, there are 160 thousand Pinoys working and living in Australia, this is expected to grow more as job opportunities in Australia is growing tremendously, Brown added.
In Queensland, average pay per hour stands at P800. Brown believes that Filipinos will be able to easily find job opportunities in Australia, specifically if they are getting proper Australian Quality Training Framework registration, like those trained by ILI and Charlton Brown.
Australia Embassy to the Philippines minister and deputy head of mission Stephen Scott said that companies in Australia still need workers, providing opportunities for Filipinos to look for job and even migrate to Australia.
In an earlier interview with The Freeman, Scott said although Australia, just like any country in the world is affected by the US recession, strong economic fundamentals in Australia has protected the country from being threatened economically.
Because job opportunities in Australia is still high despite the global recession, shortages in nursing, engineering, geologists, electricians, welders, among others are in demand, he said.